Turbine support



J. L. RAY

March 25, 1930.

TURBINE SUPPORT Filed Dec. 25, 1925 WITNES ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT or ies JAMES L. RAY, or swAnTH onE, rnnnsrnvnnrn, ASSIGNOR To WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A ooRronATIoN or PENNSYLVANIA TURBINE SUPPORT Application filed December 23, 1925. Serial No, 77,415.

My invention relates to elastic fluid turbines, more particularly to means for sup-.

porting the turbine so as to permit freedom of relative movement between the turbine and its foundation, upon expansion of the turbine, and has for its object the provision of apparatus of the character designated which shall permit said movement without an undesired amount of friction between the 10 relatively movable parts.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a turbine supported in accordance with my invention; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation along the line IIII of Figure 1; and Figure '3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the turbine and foundation, the section being taken along the line III-III of Figure 1.

It is well known in connection with elastic fluid turbines, especially those of large size, that a certain freedom of movement must be permitted between the turbine casing and the foundation or sole plate on which it is supported in order that free expansion of the casing when heated may occur, otherwise distortion of the casing may arise which is liable to cause misalignment of the shaft and rubbing of the rotor or blades against the interior of the casing or other diiiiculties. It

has further been found, especially with large turbines having condensers supported therefrom, that upon relative movement of the turbine and its foundation the excessive weight bearing upon the foundation creates a great amount of friction between the turbine and foundation or sole plate. This excessive friction has, at times, entailed distortion of the casing, misalignment of the rotor and rubbing of the parts.

In accordance with my invention I overcome the aforementioned difficulties by providing means for minimizing or reducing the friction between the turbine casing and the foundation upon relative movement therebetween, in combination with known means for constraining the rotational axis of the turbinein the same vertical plane. I accomplish this result by interposing resilient means between the foundation and the casing, said resilient means being of sufiicient strength to carry a predetermined portion of the load of the casing. The resilient means are preferably in the form of helical springs which are flexible perpendicular to their longitudinal axes, or in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the turbine, and do not impose an appreciable load, on the structure in the direction of their flexure when the turbine expands.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention I show a turbine 10 having an elastic fluid inlet at 11 and exhausting Into a condenser 12. The turbine 10 is supported upon a foundation 13, Figure 8, by means of supporting feet'l l-l i provided on the turbine casing and by bearing pedestals 16-16 at each end of the turbine. Interposed between the supporting feet l4 14 and bearing pedestals 1616 and the foundation 13 are provided suitably arranged sole plates 1717, as is well understood in the art.

At the low pressure end of the turbine 10 a dowel 18, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, is interposed between the bearing pedestals 16 and the sole plate 17, said dowel being disposed within a central vertical plane passingthrough the longitudinal axis of the turbine. V Thedowel 18 therefore serves to hold the central portion of the low pressure endfof the turbine stationary, and permits freedom of expansion of the turbine away therefrom. At the high pressure end of the turbine, between the bearing pedestals 16 and the soleplate 17 is provided a longitudinally extending key 19, Fig. 2." The longitudinally extending key 19 is likewise disposed within a central vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the turbine and serves to constrain the turbine upon expansive movement thereof so that the longitudinal axis of the turbine is maintained within its original vertical plane. If desired, a similar longitudinally extending key 21, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, may be interposed between the turbine casing and the sole plate in order to further constrain the casing. V

In order that friction between the turbine casing and bearing pedestals and the sole plate 17, upon-expansive movement of the turbine, may be minimized, I provide a suitable number of springs 2222 between the turbine and the sole plate, said springs being adapted to carry a predetermined portion of the weight of the turbine. It is not desirable that the springs be of sufficient strength tocarry the entire weight of the turbine and condenser on account of the-danger of entailing instability and vibration of the structure. It is. my purpose therefore to calculate the strength of the springs 22-22 so that they may carry a suflicient portion of the Weight to, minimize friction upon relative movement between the parts and, at the same time, retail Stability of structure.

The springs 22-22 are of the helical type and are seated in pockets 23 23-provided in the sole plates 17., said pockets being of suffic-ient; size to permit the required angular displacement of the springs. Springs thus interposed are flexible perpendicular to their longitudinal axes and do not impose any appreciable load in the direction of their flexure upon the structure supported.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improved supporting structure for elastic fluid turbines wherein freedom of; movement between the turbine and its foundation is permitted and friction between the turbine and its foundation upon said movement is greatly minimized.

lVhile I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled inthc art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, andII desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the" appended claims.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a supporting structure for an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a foundation, said turbine resting on the foundation and sliding thereon upon expansion and contraction, and resilient supporting means in-' terposed between the foundation and the turbine adaptedto carry a portion of the weight of the turbine, said supporting means being resilient in the direction of support and flexible in direction permitting expansion and contraction of the turbine.

2. In a supporting structure for an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a foundation, said turbine resting on the foundation and sliding thereon upon expansion and contraction, and resilient means flexible in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the turbine interposed between the foundation and the turbine and adapted to carry a portion only of the weight of the turbine, said means being resilient in the direction of support.

3. In a supporting structure for an elastic fluid'turbine, the combination of a foundation, said turbine resting on the foundation, and sliding thereon upon expansion and contraction, means for maintaining the rotational axis of the turbine in the same vertical plane uponexpansion, and resilient means interposed between the turbine and the foundation adapted to Carry aportion of the weight of the turbine and reduce friction upon relative movement between'the turbine and the foundation, said meansbeing resilient in the direction of support and yieldable in a direction permitting expansion and contraction of the turbine. I

4. A supporting structure for an elastic fluid turbine casing comprising a foundation, supporting means between the foundation and-the casing at each end thereof, a dowel connection between the supporting means and the casing at one end of'the turbine and disposed within a central vertical plane thereof, a sliding key connection between the casing and the supporting means towards the other end of the turbine permitting relative longitudinal movement only between the casing and the foundation, the casing being arranged to slide on the supporting means at the last mentioned end, and resilient members flexible in adirection parallel to the longitudinal axis of the turbine disposed between the supporting means and part of the turbine casing adapted to carry part of the weight of the turbine and reduce friction upon expansion.

5. The combination of an elastic fluid turbine, a-condenser for the turbine supported fromthe casing thereof, a foundation for the turbine, supporting feet provided on the turbine casing and slidably bearing on the foundation, and resilient means resilient in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the turbine interposed between the casing traction, a dowel connection between the low movement between the casing and the foundation.

7. In a supporting structure for an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a turbine casing, a foundation for the turbine, a supporting part provided on the turbine casing and slidingly bearing on the foundation to support the turbine casing thereon, and means interposed between said part and the foun dation for carrying a portion of the load transmitted through said part to reduce the sliding friction between the supporting part and the foundation, said means being yieldable in the direction of support and flexible in a direction permitting expansion and contraction of the turbine casing.

8. In a supporting structure for an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a turbine casing, a foundation for the turbine, a supporting part provided on the turbine casing and slidingly bearing on the foundation to support the turbine casing thereon, and means interposed between said part and the foundation for resiliently carrying a portion of the load transmitted through said part to reduce the sliding friction between the supporting part and the foundation, said means being flexible in a direction permitting expansion and contraction of the turbine casing.

9. In a supporting structure for an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a turbine casing, a foundation for the turbine, a supporting part provided on the turbine casing and slidingly bearing on the foundation to support the turbine casing thereon, and yieldable means interposed between said part and the foundation for carrying a portion of the load transmitted through said part to reduce the sliding friction between the supporting part and the foundation, said means offering substantially no resistance to such sliding.

10. In a supporting structure for an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a turbine casing, a foundation for the turbine, a supporting part provided on the turbine caslng and slidingly bearing on the foundation to support the turbine casing thereon, and means interposed between said part and the foundation for resiliently carrying a portion of the load transmitted through said part to reduce the sliding friction between the supporting part and the foundition, said means oflering substantially no resistance to such sliding.

v11. In ajsupportingstructure for an elas tic fluid turbine, the. combination of a. turbine casing, a foundation'for the turbine, a part provided on the turbine casingland slidingly bearing on the foundation'to support apart of the weight of the casing thereon, and means interposed between the casing and thefoundation for carrying a portion of the weight of the turbine casing to'reduce' the sliding friction betweenthe supporting part and the foundation, said means being yieldable in the direction of support and flexible in a direction permitting expansion and contraction of the turbine casing.

12. In a supporting structure for an elast1c fluid turbmefthe combination of a turbine casing, a foundation for the turbine, a

part provided on the turbine casing and slidingly bearing on the foundation to support a part of the weight of the casing thereon, and means interposed between the casing and the foundation for resiliently carrying a portion of the weight of the turbine casing to reduce the sliding friction between the supporting part and the foundation, said means being flexible in a direction permitting expansion and contraction of the turbine casing.

13. In a supporting structure for an elas tic fluid turbine, the combination of a turbine casing, a foundation for the turbine, a part provided on the turbine casing and slid ingly bearing on the foundation to support a part of the weight of the casing thereon, and means interposed between the casing and the foundation for carrying a portion of the weight of the turbine casing to reduce the sliding friction between the supporting part and the foundation, said means offering substantially no resistance to such sliding.

14. In a supporting structure for an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a turbine casing, a foundation for the turbine, a part provided on the turbine casing and slidingly bearing on the foundation to support a part of the weight of the casing thereon, and means interposed between the casing and the foundation for resiliently carrying a portion of the weight of the turbine casing to reduce the sliding friction between the supporting part and the foundation, said means offering substantially no resistance to such sliding.

15. In a supporting structure for a turbine, the combination of a foundation, a turbine casing having supporting parts bearing 011 the foundation and adapted to slide thereon, and means interposed between the foundation and the supporting parts and carrying a portion of the weight of the turbine to reduce the sliding friction between the supporting parts and the foundation, said means being yieldable in the direction of support and flexible in a direction permitting expansion and contraction of the turbine casing, a substantial portion of the weight of the turbine being transmitted from the supporting parts directly to the foundation.

16(In a supporting structure for a turbine, the combination of supporting feet provided on the turbine casing, a foundation, said supporting feet bearing on the foundation and adapted to slide thereon, and yieldable means interposed between the supporting feet and the foundation, said means offering substantially no resistance to sliding of the supporting feet and partially supporting said feet to reduce the sliding friction between the supporting feet and the foundation. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of Dec., 1925.

- JAMES L. RAY. 

